Flood wreaks havoc in Bihar

July 13, 2006 16:55 IST

Over two lakh people were affected by floods in Bihar's Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, East and West Champaran districts with major riversliminary estimates, over two lakh people spread over several villages in flood-prone blocks of these districts continued to reel under the impact of floods, state disaster managment control room sources in Patna said on Thursday.

The flood waters of Bagmati, Kamala Balan and Mahananda have submerged the National Highway 77 near Aurai in Muzaffarpur district and Runnisaidpur in Sitamarhi.

Waterlogging was reported from several areas in Patna city following incessant rains during the past 48 hours.

A visit to several low-lying areas in the capital revealed that rain and sewage water had entered the ground floor of houses, toilets were overflowing and people were trying to flush out the water either manually or through pumps.

At several places in worst-hit Kankarbagh, Karbigahiya, Rajendra Nagar, Mithapur and Chiraiyatand complained that nothing was being done to drain the water out.

Several wards in the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital were under ankle to knee-deep water. Waterlogging was seen in front of the Patna Railway Station, at Dak Bungalow crossing and Gandhi Maidan.

Weatherman said the flood situation was likely to aggravate following heavy rains in the catchment areas of the rivers originating from Nepal and coming down to the plains of Bihar.

State disaster management sources said there were no reports from the district magistrates of the flood-hit districts on the measures taken for carrying out relief and rescue operations.

Hardly 30 to 35 boats were pressed into service in different areas to evacuate the marooned people to safer places, sources said.

According to the Central Water Commission, the Bagmati was flowing 64 cm over the danger level at Benibad and was expected to rise by 10 over the next 24 hours. While other rivers, including Burhi Gandak, Adhwara group of rivers, Kamala Balan, Kosi and Mahananda were still flowing below the danger mark all along their course.

The state water resources department sources said a round-the-clock vigil was being maintained on all the major embankments to prevent breach.